Forefront of Corona's border measures-This is what it is now October 19th, 11:40
Due to the influence of the new coronavirus, movement restrictions continue around the world, and the government has relaxed immigration restrictions worldwide from October.
In addition to business people, we have allowed foreigners with medium- to long-term status of residence to enter the country.
In the future, the restrictions are expected to be relaxed in stages, but what is worrisome is border measures such as inspections at the time of entry and subsequent health management.
I will introduce what is happening now based on my own experience.
(Network Press Department Reporter Risa Komiya Former Sydney Bureau Chief)
Faster inspection
In the early morning of September 11, I landed at Haneda Airport for the first time in a long time.
After three years of bureau life in Australia, I returned to Japan.
In Japan, in order to prevent the spread of the new coronavirus, when you enter the country or region where it is particularly prevalent, you will first be tested.
Australia is also covered.
When I got off the plane, I was guided to the sample collection site.
When you arrive at the inspection site, the staff will hand you a plastic container with the reception number.
Remember when it comes to PCR testing at airports, it used to take a long time to get results, which could lead to trouble.
If no results were obtained on the day of returning to Japan, those who returned to Japan were allowed to wait at a designated hotel.
However, there were cases in which the person could not be contacted even though the result was confirmed to be positive, raising concerns about the spread of the infection.
In order to improve this situation, Narita Airport and Haneda Airport introduced an antigen test using saliva from the end of July.
The time to get results was greatly reduced.
The place where the samples were collected was like a polling place.
Multiple booths will be set up, and the person who receives the container will use it one by one.
Proper testing requires 1-2 mm of saliva, which can be redone if the amount is small or if it contains impurities such as food debris.
When I was hungry, I carefully put out the brim in the container, thinking of my favorite foods such as pickled plums and oranges.
It was painless and easier than I expected, unlike the test in which a special cotton swab was inserted to the back of the nose.
After submitting the container, we will move to the place to wait for the test result.
If it turns out to be positive, you will be taken from the airport to a designated medical institution for treatment.
Perhaps because of the tiredness of a long trip, there was an indescribably heavy atmosphere among the passengers.
Wait about 30 minutes.
When the reception number was called and I went to the counter, the staff told me the result through the window.
"Negative" I
was honestly relieved that I could enter Japan with this.
Next, you will be given a pink piece of paper stating that you will proceed to immigration, and you will be asked if you have a waiting area and transportation after entering the country.
After immigration, I arrived at the arrival lobby at around 6:50 am, about an hour and a half after arriving.
It was a lot faster than in July, when it took more than a day to get the results.
Don't use trains or taxis!
Even after leaving the airport, I will not be disappointed.
Even if the test at the airport is negative, it may be positive after that, so it was required to wait at home or at a hotel for 14 days counting from the day after entering Japan.
I decided to spend a waiting period at my family's home in Tokyo.
Trains, buses, taxis, etc. are prohibited as means of transportation to prevent the spread of infection.
It is strictly restricted to hire cars that meet the standards of the Ministry of Health, Labor and Welfare.
The car I used had a transparent board between the driver's seat and the back seat to prevent infection.
The sticker inside the car stated that the passengers should load and unload their luggage to prevent infection and that they should not touch the equipment inside the car such as doors.
In case of emergency, the returnee will be picked up by a dedicated driver, and no other pick-up will be done.
According to the driver, some people spend more than 100,000 yen to get to the Tohoku region.
As a matter of fact, transportation expenses and hotel stay expenses for returning home are all paid by yourself without government subsidy.
For people whose homes are located in remote areas, it costs 100,000 yen just for staying and traveling, so there are still some people overseas who cannot afford to return to Japan.
Self-reported health status on standby
Even when you get home, your response to Corona will not end.
For 14 days, your health status will be checked by phone, email, and LINE app from your local health center.
In my case, I was supposed to be contacted by phone or email, but the first email arrived only a week later.
Follow the instructions in the email and report to the health center every day whether you have a fever or cough.
I received replies every day except Saturdays, Sundays, and holidays.
Fortunately, I didn't feel sick, but I couldn't be alert, so when I finished my final report, I felt better.
After all I faced corona fat
Of course, you cannot go out while waiting.
I faced "corona fatness" because I had limited opportunities to move.
I tried doing muscle training with abdominal muscles and weights on the ankles, but it didn't work because it was too few times.
And even now that I can go out, unfortunately the "corona fatness" has not been resolved ...
"If you don't move, you get fat."
It was 14 days that made me reconfirm the obvious.
Toward relaxation of immigration restrictions
The government has embarked on easing immigration restrictions.
Business-oriented traffic to and from South Korea, Singapore, Vietnam, etc. has already been lifted.
Of these, short-term business travelers arriving from South Korea and Singapore can carry out limited business activities even while waiting for 14 days by submitting a negative proof or action plan.
Among these foreigners, those who cannot speak Japanese are supposed to report their physical condition on behalf of the person in charge of accepting the company.
Furthermore, in the future, there is a possibility that you will be exempted from waiting for 14 days no matter where you enter the country, but I felt that border measures such as inspections and health checks at the time of entry will be more important than ever.
The test will continue to be conducted on all people entering the country, but in the unlikely event that someone feels sick after entering the country and the retest confirms a positive result, contact those who have acted together. And self-isolation are required.
The current system is based on the premise of honestly reporting the presence or absence of fever, so each person's good sense is the key to preventing the spread of infection.
From now on, the number of trips to and from overseas will increase little by little, but I felt that the major issue was how to strike a balance between border measures and the convenience of people entering Japan.
* This article is as of October 16th.
If you are going to travel or return to Japan, please check the latest situation with the Ministry of Health, Labor and Welfare or the nearest diplomatic mission abroad.